Peruvian Adventures

I recently set out with a friend to Peru. We spent ten days in Lima and two days in Cuzco. The entire trip was amazing as you can imagine and I loved every minute of it. I took an absurd amount of pictures as I was taken away by every thing that I came across. Also, as a tourist, who doesn’t love to take pictures. Am I right?! From the delicious food, the amazing company, the sights, culture, and fun, I could have stayed forever. Here are some of my favorite pictures. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this country, please take advantage.

Giancarlo Giammetti – Valentino

One of the greatest perks about being a student at Parsons New School is the amount of recognition and connection that the school has within the fashion industry. Last week I had the pleasure of sitting in on a Q&A with Giancarlo Giammetti, who is the President of the Valentino brand. This discussion was in part to promote his book entitled ‘Private’, that captures the diaries excerpts and pictures he has from his years working in the industry with Valentino himself.

I can also die happy, as I am now able to say that I was in the same room as Mr. Valentino himself who sat in the front row during this Q&A. As picture perfect as you expect him to look is exactly how he appeared. His orange tanned skin and perfect waft of hair were too much to handle!

During the discussion Giancarlo talked about his many memories in working in the fashion industry. He touched on some of the challenges and hardships but mainly focused on the positives and all his glorious work that he accomplished with Valentino. The interviewer was none other than Parsons own Dean, Simon Collins and it lasted just about an hour. The book itself if humongous, as it should be, with all of the successes and amazing dresses that this fashion house has put out throughout the years.

I also would like to point out that if you have not yet seen the film, “Valentino: The Last Emperor”, your next move is to immediately get on Netflix and watch it. This beautiful documentary is a love story of how a true couturier works and also includes the highs and the lows of putting these magnificent fashion production together.

Terms to Know for Fashion School

(Women on the fence)

As I am three-quarters of the way through my year-long stay at Parsons, I have realized that there are many vocabulary terms in this industry that one should be aware of. I have compiled a list of all the related words that I think are important to anyone who is or wishes to pursue a career in this field.

Designer: the individual responsible for creating the entire line. They may also be in charge of the showroom and retrieving the initial fabrics to be used in the design process. The creative process is very long and challenging as you have to be sure that your designs correlate to what your consumers will want.

Merchandiser: works closely with the designer to ensure the accurate promotion of goods as well as analyze and spot trends. Considers the designer, the development and manufacturing, the retailing and the consumer sides of the company.

Marketing: utilizes creative ideas to make a strong brand and its products desirable to their target market through promotions, campaigns, and retailing initiatives.

Swatches: sample of fabric to be used for design

Fit Model: the actual size of a company’s ideal consumer

Runway Model: as the name implies, it is the models who have a longer torso and legs that are used to present garments in shows

SWOT Analysis: determining the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats that a company faces. Strengths and weaknesses are an analysis of the company’s internal environment while opportunities and threats are geared toward the external environment.

Showroom: a space in which wholesale buyers are able to view the clothing and garments to be sold in their own retail locations

Coterie: International fashion trade show. Conduct trade exhibitions with almost 10,000 design companies

Women’s Wear Daily: your fashion bible. Everyday this should be read as they provide you with all of the up to date fashion industry events and happenings.

Globalization: the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets – Merriam Webster Dictionary

Fast Fashion: when designs from the runway are produced quickly enough to keep up with the current trends in the industry.

Staple Goods: merchandise that is purchased regularly by consumers: T-shirts, underwear, socks

Pantone: leader in all things color. They provide the industry with names and number of all different colors, including those that are to be trend colors for future seasons.

Technical Packs: a detailed sketching of what the garment should look like that is sent to manufacturers and producers to ensure that their standards are met. This will include color, seams, measurements, and materials

Retailer: responsible from purchasing goods from manufacturers in order to sell them directly to the consumer in smaller quantities.

Outsourcing: Used to determine the most efficient and cost-effective method of production overseas.

Brand: the name or mark that a company has in order to distinguish themselves from others. This correlates with their reputation and experience when interacting with them.

Quick Response: An electronic communication systems set up in order to notify production when products reach a certain threshold so they are able to fulfill orders to keep inventory and goods stocked

Returns to Vendors: RTV Merchandise that is given back to the vendor from the purchaser. This may be done for many reasons such as damaged goods or production errors.

These terms are just to give you a good basic understanding of what you will hear in many of your courses or around school.  I am in the fashion marketing program, so any design or technical terms have been left out of this list. This is a very brief list and should be expanded as you learn more but do not simply limit yourself to these terms. There are hundreds of designers and people in the industry that you should be aware of as well as many documentaries and films that are relevant in fashion school.

What is Bohemian Fashion?

Bohemian as defined by Merriam-Websters dictionary is described as “a person (as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others.” This term comes from the belief that gypsies migrated from a province in the Czech called ‘Bohemia.’ In the mid 19th century, Europeans used this word to describe the artists and youth that would not succumb to societal standards of living and related these Bohemians to living in poor conditions and using drugs. In 1875, the opera Carmen depicted the love life and tragedy of a Spanish gypsy who was referred to as ‘bohemienne.’ 

(Pocono Community Theatre)

The Bohemian culture and influence also obtains some of its roots from the beatnik and ‘hippie’ movement of the 1950’s and 60’s, targeted in the San Francisco area of California. In San Francisco, there is a cross street called Haight-Ashbury that also directly correlates to this movement in this area. This intersection was known for embracing music, artists, writers, and experimenting with different types of drugs.

(Teenage Film)

(Vintag.es)

(Woodstock Story)

In the 1990’s the community of Bohemians that seemed to have popped up in New York City’s Alphabet City, was told through the musical Rent that many are familiar with. In the play, there is even a song entitled “La Vie Boheme” which translates to ‘The Bohemian Life.’ The story line touches topics such as drug use, poor living conditions, and same sex relationships.

(Fort bragg)

Today the essence of Bohemian is wrapped around this picture of a free spirited individual who does what they wish without being as rebellious as would define a more ‘punk’ fashion/culture. The history is important to note when piecing together what it has become into today’s popular culture. As it being characterized as individuals doing what they had to in order to get by, a lot of the garments are loose fitting and incorporates skirts and nothing too fancy. There have also been many fashion brands that aim to fulfill this culture  that is still in existence today, yet slightly transformed. These would include such retailers as Free People, Urban Outfitters, Lucky Brand, Forever 21 and H&M. 

(Honey and Bee Tumblr)

(Shop Daily Chic)

(Birch and Willow Tumblr)

How Globalization in Fashion is Doing More Harm than Good

 

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Globalization as being characterized by free trade, “and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets.” This idea has been around since the mid 20th century and with its transition into the fashion industry, though we are able to produce more and offer lower prices to consumers, we are also portraying an acceptance to violating human rights and poor quality clothing.

The mindset of the mass market has transformed through the years as globalization has become more and more widely accepted. In the past, clothes were admired for their tailored fit and unique craftsmanship and now as we look for “more bang for our buck”, the quality in our purchases is being compromised. Fast fashion retailers such as Forever 21 and H&M are many consumers “go-to’s” to access trendy pieces at more than affordable prices. Though the prices of these garments are very attractive, the garment themselves do not obtain that quality after their first wash cycle. With the need to keep up with consumers growing WANTS in fashion, production quotas are needing to be filled at unrealistic time frames and their output is becoming more shoddy by the batches.

Whether we realize it or not, there is a form of slavery that is being made a lifestyle by some citizens as their need for work has trapped them into a work cycle where abuse and harassment are the norm. Many times women are employed at these factories where they succumb to pressures from their employer to work over fifteen hour shifts in order to complete timely deliveries of shipments, sometimes without consistent pay schedules. Further, many times these factories give way to a hazardous and harmful environment to work in marked by condensed work spaces, blocked emergency exits and/or toxic chemicals filling the air. In certain countries, children as young as six or seven years old are ordered to assist in the manufacturing process and put their schooling on the back burner or else they will receive punishment. Though this is not true in all garment factory cases, this still is true for many in all areas of the world including China, India, Uzbekistan, and even in some factories in the United States. Compare this life to that in which many Americans have grown up in and we can consider ourselves more than lucky.

Apart from the human rights violations that are happening in many factories, I have not even touched on the environmental concerns and issues that mass production and globalization have created over the years. Toxic chemicals are being dumped into water sources and many garments are being thrown away rather than donated or upcycled.

It is true that America had to endure some of the same hardships that other countries are now facing as they go through industrialization, but why would we those same challenges given onto others when we can help prevent them. Just as we make our own mistakes we notify other to help them avoid the same mistakes. Why should we not do this for our brothers and sisters in foreign countries?

My aim is to raise awareness in this subject so that we can actually save lives. We hear about awful historical events such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that killed many women and more recently the tragedy in Bangladesh that also took many lives, but it doesn’t have the same affect on consumers as something such as 9/11 had. Perhaps because it doesn’t hit as close to home, it is still important to acknowledge what is going on in less developed countries. This issue has been ongoing for over 100 years and the fact that we are still dealing with these types of problems is sorrowful and morbid.  Consumers should not have to beg these huge successful retailers to produce their products in an ethical manner. Corporate Social Responsibility needs to be taken more seriously and the effect should be made from the top down, where management is the first to embrace these concepts and pass them down to employees and then the community.

I, myself am guilty of purchasing poorly made clothing in an attempt to stretch my money but as I learn more and more about what these companies are sacrificing in order to fulfill prices that consumers are willing to pay, I am trying to be more conscious into reading tags and care labels of garments. As careful as we are in how we shop for food, by reading labels and trusting in our local Whole Foods, we should also be practicing these same steps when we shop for clothes. Although I do believe that steps should be taken from the beginning of the supply chain to ensure that these garments are being produced in a humane and ethical manner, we should also be considerate to the reality of the matters and take time to make purchases that will be worth our time and money.

There are several videos and books that cover this subject to give viewers a more impacted understanding of this issue and I advise everyone who is interested to take time to educate themselves and others.

A) China Blue – 2005 Film that documents the life of a factory worker, Jasmine, as she struggles to adopt to the lifestyle in order to aid in supporting her family in China.

B) Nike Sweatshops: Behind the Swoosh – A twenty minute behind the scenes look at Jim Keady’s portrayal of how Nike utilizes immoral conditions for their workers in Indonesia. Keady and a colleague actually stay in Indonesia for one month and endure living off of just over one dollar per day.

C) Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline is a book that the author illustrates how much the fashion industry has changed into what it has become through her many travels and interviews.

How To: Survive a Long Distance Relationship in College

Throughout most of my college schooling I have some way or another found myself in long distance relationships. I don’t mean to boast, but I consider myself a pro at it by now. I am sure what I write about is nothing new or surprising to anyone but I wish to reiterate the tips that have helped me along the way.

Of course trust is one of the biggest aspects of any relationship, but especially so in a long distance one. For me, I have had many issues in regard to trust, especially as I am still young and in college. This is the time in my life where I wish to go out and experience the world and meet as many people as I can. For some reason though, past boy friends have thought that me going out meant I was looking for someone to go home with. If there is no trust in your relationship than its best to just let it go so you can enjoy the few years in college that you do have.

Always be in constant communication, but don’t be overbearing. Each person in the relationship does not want to have any reason to worry and by always communicating with one another, you can avoid any worries. It doesn’t even need to be long drawn out conversations either! One thing that I have found helpful, is just sending a quick text to let my significant other know where I am or what my plans are. It may seem pointless, but it does give some sense of ease to the opposite party.

Embrace FaceTime/Skype! One of the best parts of my day is being able to see my boyfriend through FaceTime when I have the time, and WiFi! Being away from each other is obviously difficult but being able to see their face and interact with them is a great privilege. We have grown to be a part of this very technical environment and we should be so thankful for inventions like this and have fun with it! The other day, I opted to give my boyfriend a little serenade session before we said goodnight! It is something stupid and cheesy but it shows that you care and you are 100% interested.

Surprises are never a bad idea. Just as us girls do love roses or flowers just because, don’t be shy to return the favor. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars or get a really expensive gift either, we are on a college budget after all. Something like a hand written card, poem, or picture to send to your significant other is a sweet idea. If he/she has a sweet tooth, Edible Arrangements are a great service that I have had a good experience with. You can send some fruit or chocolate to either their work or home.

Plan on the future. If you are serious about this person that you are in a relationship with then continue to make plans with one another for the future. When I write this, don’t think that I mean set a wedding date or anything, but plan on small vacations or a concert instead. Knowing that you both have something to look forward to will make it easier to get through the harder times. If you do get to be together for holiday breaks or if the other party comes to visit you than make the best of the little time you have together. Do not get caught up in small and stupid fights as they are not worth it and you will end up regretting it. Continue to think of the bigger picture and let the small things go.

No relationship whether long distance or not is going to be easy. If you do find yourself in a long distance relationship, make sure that it is with someone that you will be willing to work with and move forward with. If you have many hesitations or concerns, I would advise to take this time to focus on yourself and enjoy your college life. As stressful as college is on it’s own, being in a relationship (a long distance one at that) is going to be that much difficult.

If you are able to get through the long distance portion of the relationship, then I say you both have a bright future!

Foodie Friendly NYC

One of my favorite hobbies is eating! I am happy to report that since I have moved to NYC, I have not experienced one bad meal, and they have not all been ridiculously priced either. As much as I would love to keep these restaurants and bars a secret for my own selfish reasons, I figured I would share them with you.

• Gaia: Italian Restaurant in the Lower East Side. This small restaurant is quaint, authentic, and cheap! Gaia is the name of the fabulous owner who brings her background to NYC. She is there everyday and always pleased to come out from cooking and talk to her customers. The best part is that its BYOW-Bring Your Own Wine. Directly across the street you can buy a bottle of wine and receive 10% off when you tell them you are eating at Gaia. Bring the bottle to the restaurant and they will uncork it for you at no extra fee and bring you glasses. As far as recommendations go, I would always make sure you look at the specials board next to the register counter. The arugula salad which is always available is quite delicious as well as the Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi. This gnocchi is not like others you are use to trying and have a delicious spin on them. Finish your meal with an espresso and one of the pastries/cookies that Gaia picks up daily.http://www.gaiaitaliancafe.com/default.html

• Leadbelly: This place is one of my favorite bars to go to on the weekends. There is always a great crowd and good music playing. I have never ate here but I can attest to the cocktails being good. If you do come here make sure it is with a crowd that you are extremely comfortable with because on busy weekends at night, it’s a tight squeeze at points. I never felt annoyed by the spacing inside but I was also always with good friends.                                                  http://www.theleadbelly.com/
• De Santos: I recently found this gem and love everything about it! It used to be an old speakeasy awhile back and classic rockers such as Hendrix and Joplin were known to have played and stayed there. A few years ago it was made into this amazing restaurant that seeks too keep this feeling alive. The food here is so good and it changes every once in a while as well, as the kitchen likes to experiment. It is darker lighting and there is a wonderful patio area that can be used for dining or private intimate events. The walls have pictures of beautiful Joplin and even a deer head near the bar. I recommend this place for both the food and the atmosphere. The beef carpaccio is a must try appetizer as it is served with potato gnocchi and truffle cream. Or if you want a place to hang out in the West Village and grab a drink with friends, this also serves as a hot spot.                                   http://desantosnyc.com/
• The Mermaid Inn: This restaurant has several locations and is a great place to dine out with friends. They are known for their oysters as their name would lead on. The atmosphere is very happening and I suggest going there to try several types of the oysters available and then picking a few entrees to share among your group.

http://www.themermaidnyc.com/

• Momofuku Milk Bar- Not only is their name fun to say but this dessert bar is pretty sensational. If you have a serious sweet tooth then you must come here to get your fix! The two items that I can say are truly delicious are their soft serve – cereal milk, and the crack pie- yes its crack pie, as in so good you’ll want another one to enjoy right after your first one. As hard as it may be to imagine, the soft serve cereal milk is like your morning bowl of cereal in ice cream form. The sweet ice cream is topped with crunchy flakes and it makes you want to melt into it.

http://milkbarstore.com/

• Gemma Restaurant: For a more upscale Italian restaurant experience, go to Gemma. This exquisite location is very sophisticated in its appearance and service. There is usually a wait, which is a good sign, but a bar is available to dine out or grab a drink while you wait. The food is good as I ordered the Linguini Frutti di Mare. I went here on a date and although it was a bit loud, we both had a very nice time and intend on going back.

http://www.theboweryhotel.com/dining.php

Although this list is relatively short, I have only just begun. I plan to add more restaurants as my search continues, but this is a good start of all the noteworthy restaurants that I have enjoyed. Bon Apetite!

Mad about Mad Men

I know that I am extremely late on catching onto this amazing show, but Mad Men has me hooked!

At the beginning of this semester when I had a lot of free time, I was perusing through Netflix to find my next guilty pleasure. I thought I would give episode a shot and see if I was into it or not. Obviously, I became instantly hooked and with my personality, this is not a good thing. I became extremely obsessed with the show and could not stop watching it. I would strain my eyes to stay awake to watch just one more episode almost every night. 

As a fashion major, I also feel head over heels for the outfits and fashion that costume designer Janie Bryant has put together for the show. The business men in the show wear many suits and as a girl I am naturally much more attracted by what the ladies are wearing. 

The time period starts in the late 50’s and goes through the 60’s. This is a time for women when we can see how they are slowly transitioning from domesticated housewife into more independents. The way in which they are portrayed give them this feminine and elegant look that just makes me think of classic Jackie O. 

Some of the necessities I have noticed, to be apart of this beautiful fashion time period include: red lipstick, white gloves, low heels, bob haircuts, cigarette in hand, martinis, dresses upon dresses, scarves, pearls, and pillbox hats. Patterns are simple and usually include plaids, stripes, and florals.

As the show continues further into the 60’s we can also see how the influence of styles correlating to Twiggy are coming about with splashes of neon and even go-go boots. 

The fashion is so amazing that Banana Republic had a collection inspired from this show and I also intend to use this as inspiration for an ongoing project I have assigned for this semester as well. 

Although I am crazy about the fashion, I also like the story line. Each episode leaves you wanting to know what is going to happen next. I look forward to see where else this show and its fashion will go. And if you haven’t started watching yet, make Netflix your new bestfriend…..or worst enemy.

Let’s be clear that FALL is here!

Although I am obsessed with summer, there is something about the fall season that is inspiring. In my world, you know its fall when there is: Sunday Football (or Thursday or Monday night), lattes permanently attached to my hands, infinity scarfs, hockey games, dark nail polish (in this case it is essie’s: devil’s advocate), and of course the deliciousness of pumpkin pie and anything cinnamon. 

So, embrace the season and get your layers ready!

Google Alerts #Fail

As I do a search in google alert to find out how many times I have a mention through social media or any other online activity, the results come back with nothing!

Although I initially was a little shocked at these results, I can understand why I am lacking in my online presence. Having grown into using social media and web sites on a daily basis, I thought that I was pretty active in that sense, however my contributions are not as prominent as they could be. 

It is clear to me that in order to be my own brand and promote myself in a positive light, I am going to need to make some changes. Creating a presence for yourself online and through your social media accounts has become more important now than ever before. As employers are searching for your presence online, it is also pertinent that the information that is shared in your mentions are positive and appropriate. 

Some obvious ways in which to boost my mentions would be to engage more! Simple conversations with users or followers that have a similar interest as I would be the most simple way to begin. By posting or commenting more with different brands or even friends I am further increasing my interactions with others and will have a more likely chance for someone to mention me in the future. In correlation with this, by mentioning other people and users in my posts may also increase my chances as well. Sharing a commonality with others and mentioning them would give others a positive feeling and may make them feel more enticed to do the same in return. 

Also by integrating all of my social media accounts into one platform, this will allow anyone who searches me to find out exactly how I wish to be portrayed through all of my accounts. It is a simple way to portray myself as a brand in an organized manner.